Attique for NAM countries role to settle Kashmir

NISAR AHMED THOKAR

Islamabad, Aug 10: The former prime minister of PaK and the president of Muslim Conference Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan has urged the member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to come forward in a big way to help resolve the long-pending Kashmir dispute to ensure stability, peace and prosperity in “highly volatile region.”
 “The NAM summit in Iran is being held at a time when the whole South Asian region is in a state of severe stress, confrontation and disorder and therefore it is high time that in view of the prevailing circumstance, the heads of state of the NAM countries should play their much needed role settle Kashmir issue”, Khan made these remarks while addressing an Iftar-dinner hosted in honour of Kashmiri journalists here.
 Khan also expressed the hope that besides other issues President Asif Ali Zardari and Indian premier Dr Manmohan Singh would also talk about Kashmir issue as well in their expected meeting in Tehran.
 Highlighting the importance of the K-resolution Khan said that the world leaders like US president Barack Obama, Wen Jia Bao of China and the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki Moon, during their recent visits to India, have categorically stated that a peaceful solution of Kashmir dispute was must for peace in the region.
 Referring to political parties’ “apathy” towards Kashmir issue, Khan said, “Now that the world is talking about the resolution of Kashmir, it was astonishing to see that the ruling party and opposition have maintained criminal silence over the issue.”
 Khan who was and is a strong proponent of former president Parvaiz Musharraf’s Kashmir policy said that Musharraf dared to raise the Kashmir issue vociferously on India’s soil, whereas the rulers, today, avoid talking on Kashmir even in their own country. He said that the rulers have unfortunately let down the people of Kashmir but Pakistan nation stood along side their Kashmiri brethren through thick and thin.
 Regarding the much talked about issue of revamping of constitutional, financial and administrative arrangements between the governments of Pakistan and PaK (defined in the Act 1974), Khan said that in the backdrop of 18th constitutional amendment there was no room for over-centralization saying that devolution of power from Kashmir Council to the PaK government was a dire need of the moment. “As the process of decentralization to empower the provinces is under way in the center the government should also take appropriate steps needed to delegate powers to the PaK government as well”, he said. The MC President was of the view that meddling into the internal affairs of the government of PaK through Kashmir Council or any other ministry would prove to be counterproductive.
 Coming down heavily upon the Chudhary Majeed led PPP government in the region he said that the government has set up a new record by establishing a huge army of advisors and ministers. “In a 49-member House there are more than 94 ministers and advisors and the state resources are being plundered like alms”, he lamented.
 Khan also expressed serious concern over the massacre of Burmese Muslims and appealed the world human rights organizations take effective cognizance of the human rights abuse inflicted upon the hapless Muslim community.